Interview with Victor Osoro

Back to Toliara

We thank God that after two months of support raising and visiting with family and friends in his home of Nairobi, Kenya, Victor returned to Madagascar in June 2010. Please continue to pray for his ministry in Toliara as he conducts English classes and services, disciples young believers, coordinate music and youth ministries, and reaches out to the community with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Below: Victor with two of the young men he meets with regularly for prayer and discipleship.

Highlights from The First Two Years

Below is a timeline and summary of Duncan and Victor's highlights from their first two years in Madagsacar as missionaries:

2008
May
Arrived in Madagascar
Started SOMA mission
Engaged in Saturday services at St. Luke’s
June
Began teaching English classes
July
Mission to Morondava
Church planting in Morondava
Sept
First Youth Rally
Dec Open Air Outreach

2009
Jan
Music team records first album
Feb
Conducted Men’s Conference
April
Evangelism training
Planted Ft. Dolphin Church
May Teaching in Bible School
Held Youth Music Concert
Aug
Mission to Andranomena
Sept
Mission to Arkotutu
Conducted Youth Conference
Oct
Mission to Betaola
English classes grow to different levels
Nov
Mission to Andranomena
Regional Youth Conference (Morondava)
Sunday School Teacher’s Training Seminar
First Open Air Preaching in Malagasy
Dec
Malagasy Christmas Musical

2010
Jan
Youth Leaders’ Training
Evangelists Training
Feb
Second Men’s Retreat
Mar
New Church Plant in Betania
Discipleship Training
Apr
Return to Nairobi for furlough

Question and Answer with Victor

Victor Osoro is among the very few young men who have pioneered international missions in Africa. He has been called to serve as a missionary in Toliara, Madagascar, a neglected region in the Southwest of Madagascar. Later on in the year, he hopes to be ordained as a full time minister in the Anglican Church of Madagascar. Below is a summary of a short question/answer session held with Victor during his furlough in Nairobi during May 2010.

C.A: Now that you are home how do you feel?

V.O: (Gives a long sigh…”home sweet home… I manage to read his thoughts…”) I am excited to be back home. It feels good to speak Swahili once again.

C.A: What do you like most about your mission work?

V.O: (Smiling slyly…) It‟s an exiting adventure, a journey of faith. I handle each day as it comes...cyclones, tornados...once we traveled on water for three hours...holding our hearts close to our beings we sailed through...swimming was a skill we had not acquired while in Kenya. Mmmhhh...talk about what faith can do!!

C.A: What is your favorite Malagasy food?

V.O: Mmmmhhhh….ravin‟toto. It‟s a mixture of crushed potatoe leaves and pork as stew with rice...nothing tastes better!!

C.A: With the much success, there sure are challenges, tell us more about that.

V.O: At the beginning language barrier was a mountainous challenge. People come and pour out their hearts to you in Malagasy and you are left in the dark, expected to offer a solu-
tion to a problem you have not heard. The climate is extremely hot, hotter than famous Mombasa. The sun there is definitely closer to earth than any other place. Lately there was a coup. Politically, the country is drained. As missionaries we don't have a say as much. Prayer and emotional support is the much we can offer these people. (Victor looks extremely depressed…”this must be hard for him…” I think as I prepare to focus on a much lighter topic…)

C.A: So… any parting shot? A comment perhaps?

V.O: (suddenly, with a defiant stare he looks at me.) People will always need you, but you go where people need you most. (I slowly nod in agreement, quickly doodling down the point..) I look back up. (At this point, Victor is looking away.) In Kenya there are about 20,000 missionaries, in Madagascar there are about 200 missionaries… (a hundred fold indeed !!! I think as I jot that down.) I go where people don't want to go.

A Toolbox For Serving Christ

Exodus 4:2, The Lord said to him “What is that in your hand?” He said “A rod.” God used Moses rod to perform miracles. He wants to use what is in your hand too.

Silence, speech, talent are all great tools God has given us. Duncan and Victor have their own tools for ministry in Madagascar too. One means they are using to share Christ is the English language. To them, English is not only a means of communication, but a also a highly useful tool to proclaim Christ.

Going to church on Sunday is very rare in Toliara. For most Malagasy, Sunday is a day to do house chores, relax, and spend time with friends. To reach those who would not normally enter a church, Duncan and Victor have started Saturday services. These services are led in English and all who attend Duncan and Victor's English classes are encouraged to attend. Therefore, on Saturdays people not only learn English but also get an opportunity to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.

Music Sweeps Malagasy Off Their Feet

The Malagasy find music irresistible. They adore it. As long as there is a rhythm, dancing goes on automatically. A strategy had to be developed to ensure that music meets the needs of the people and is also used to share the Good News of Jesus.. Fortunately eve-ryone seemed to have an idea on how to play the guitar here, and as missionaries we found this quite a stepping stone.

Knowing the keyboard worked to my advantage. I have trained a few people and now we are working on the drums and the violin...glory to God a great band is coming up! This acts as an ave-nue for people to identify and explore their talents as well as to grow and their gifts and use music to praise the Lord and reach out to oth-ers. A good blend of Malagasy, Swahili, and English songs fill the air during our worship services on Saturdays and Sundays, said Victor. Thanks to music many have come to know Christ and are eager to attend our services.

Four Women Snatched from Satan's Snare

On 14th March, 2010 four women were saved from a satanic bondage. Three were addicted alcoholics and one was a chain smoker. I had gone for house to house evangelism in the area, and when I met these four women, something in my heart just told me that God was as at work. Through rigorous evangelism and prayer God broke them free from their oppression.
“Pastor please teach me how to read the Bible so I will be totally strong to fight this evil spirit” one of the women pleaded. I gladly invited her over but on one condition….she should come
with at least five friends for the lessons. That was the beginning of a new church and the Sunday Services in Betania.